Acquiring Minds

62:26

$33m Holdco: Teddy Bears to Insurance Claims

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/10/05

Colin King and his 50/50 partner have paid themselves little since 2018, reinvesting profits back into their businesses. Topics in Colin’s interview:Growing Circle City Capital’s business portfolioDon’t call them private equityWhy Colin stopped wanting operational rolesWhy critical mass matters for holdcosHe still earn less than operatorsHoldco strategy versus industry-specific rollupsThe fox versus hedgehog frameworkLearning through hands-on operating experienceWhy chasing money can make

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90:02

The $150k Hiding in the Business He Bought

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/10/01

Patrick Dunphy acquired a low-seven-figure interpreter agency, then halved its collection times in year one.Topics in Patrick’s interview:From Army aviation to business ownershipWhy Patrick chose ownership over corporate successThree years searching while working full-timeTurning red flags into acquisition opportunitiesWhy intrinsic value matters beyond financial returnsBuilding a scalable, contractor-driven service businessStructuring an SBA acquisition without seller financingCutting

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88:26

How to Buy a $2.1m Business Without the SBA

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/28

Jack Rauch left politics for a niche Florida business no bank would finance. He's doubled revenue twice since.Register for the webinar: Sizing an SBA Loan to the Cash Flow - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4hrFwgeTopics in Jack’s interview:From the White House to entrepreneurshipDiscovering an overlooked private provider nicheCustomers helped save the businessHow private inspections accelerate construction projectsExpanding beyond the seller's tiny territoryNavigating licensing requirements

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90:04

Buying a $7.3m Golf Course with No Money Down

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/24

Kyle Holmes spent 8 years running Quail Ridge for its investor owners. Then they asked if he wanted to buy it.Register for the webinars:Protect the Business: How to Diligence Insurance Pre-Close - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4xvNj2ESizing an SBA Loan to the Cash Flow - Tue, Sep 29 - https://bit.ly/4y1Xr4aTopics in Kyle’s interview:Growing up in a golf family Running Quail Ridge before becoming an ownerBeing approached about buying the golf courseGolf’s boom, recession, and post-COVID

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90:52

Buying a $12.5m Contractor to Create 1,000 Jobs

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/21

Manolo Diaz Corrada came home to Puerto Rico to build for decades and keep the wealth from leaving the island.Register for the webinars: Working Capital: What Buyers Need to Know Before Closing - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4yJUdSXProtect the Business: How to Diligence Insurance Pre-Close - Thu, Sep 24 - https://bit.ly/4rlZei3Topics in Manolo’s interview:Building a career across engineering, business, and lawFighting Puerto Rico’s brain drainLaunching a self-funded search in a tiny

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71:46

Losing a $1m SDE Business to Bankruptcy

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/17

Morli Desai bought an e-commerce brand with an SBA loan. Three years later: liquidation, Chapter 11, and gratitude.Register for the webinars:Equity Financing: From SBA Deals to Independent Sponsors - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4r81edBWorking Capital: What Buyers Need to Know Before Closing - Tue, Sep 22 - https://bit.ly/4gZWFxhTopics in Morli’s interview:Acquiring a skincare brandWhy she felt confident in the companyEarly red flags she minimizedAmazon shipping disasterRising cost per

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91:56

$340k to $1.3m of Earnings in 14 Months

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/14

Rob Brooks bought a $1.9m Sarasota HVAC shop, then ignored the advice to wait 90 days before changing it.Register for the webinar: Equity Financing: From SBA Deals to Independent Sponsors - Thu, Sep 17 - https://bit.ly/3VqwuZuTopics in Rob’s interview:Choosing an industry where he had an edgeBuying smaller to reduce debt riskUnderstanding prepaid customer obligationsUsing ChatGPT to learn HVACMaking changes immediately after acquisitionInheriting a GM and long-tenured employeesDigitizing

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67:22

Buy a Business with Your Tax Bill

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/10

Adam Whelchel paid himself instead of the IRS, putting $35k down on an escape room doing $365k with room to grow.Register for the webinar: The Deal I Almost Bought (And Why I Passed) - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4hVeKikTopics in Adam’s interview:Built a $1.5M accounting firmBusiness brokerage opened the acquisition doorWanted a business his daughter could appreciateAn escape room caught his attentionFixed costs created massive operating leverageBought the business for roughly $220KPut about

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83:01

First-Timer Buys a $15m Business in Distress

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/07

Mike Bourgeois bought an HVAC company bleeding $3m a year, all cash and no SBA, then cut $1.4m of costs in 2 weeks.Register for the webinar: The Deal I Almost Bought (And Why I Passed) - Thu, Sep 10 - https://bit.ly/4zKAGTNTopics in Mike’s interview:Led major Air Force medical practiceFound a search partner with complementary skill setsBet on distressed businesses with liquidation valueFound a deal through veteran ETA SlackSpeed beat the highest bidImmediately cut $1.4M in annualized

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105:04

An Engineer's Mini Berkshire: 2 Auto Shops in 1 Year

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/09/03

Sujith Shankar left 25 years in corporate to buy cash-flowing businesses: a $1.2m repair shop and a $2m body shop.Topics in Sujith interview:How Rivian layoffs changed everythingFalling down the Warren Buffett rabbit holeWhy auto repair beat real estateFunding a deal without an SBA loanRunning a business while keeping a W-2Winning over skeptical employees after closingPlanning a mini Berkshire HathawayIs EV adoption really a threat?Buying a second business just months laterCollision shops

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103:18

Right-Tail Outcome for a Husband & Wife Search Fund

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/31

Courtney and Jonathan Dunn bought a fast-growing SaaS at 3-4x ARR, doubled it, then merged for a life-changing exit.Register for the webinar: Architecture of an Entrepreneurial Roll-Up - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4gXkwPtTopics in Jonathan & Courtney’s interview:Their background in oil & gasTurning down an offer from AppleImproving their investor pitchTraveling extensively to searchAcquiring a niche healthcare software company Using all equity, no debt, for the dealUsing an

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118:05

The Ferrari of Signage: $9.5m Pipeline in 6 Months

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/27

Andrew Sova and Alex Clark revived sales at a 40-year-old sign manufacturer, the first acquisition of their holdco.Register for the webinars:New SBA Rules: What Business Buyers Need to Know - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4hGNwMiArchitecture of an Entrepreneurial Roll-Up - Tue, Sep 1 - https://bit.ly/4qc7dxxTopics in Andrew & Alex’s interview:Meeting at BCGPartnership provided accountability and motivationLooking for direct-impact rolesPrioritizing speed with brokered searchTheir vision to

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78:12

40 Schools to 130: The Roll-Up 2 Years Later

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/24

Jeff Homer returns with an update: revenue past $100m, a new dance division, and 50% growth expected this year. Register for the webinars:Licenses & Regulatory Issues When Buying a Business - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/4ccatTWNew SBA Rules: What Business Buyers Need to Know - Thu, Aug 27 - https://bit.ly/4c3b6zjArchitecture of an Entrepreneurial Roll-Up - Tue, Sep 1 - https://bit.ly/4zdTbj2Topics in Jeff’s interview:Building a music school roll-upScaling through monthly

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61:52

From $700k Purgatory to $3m: A Mosquito Joe Update

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/20

Neil Finneran returns 3 years after buying a business so small it barely paid him a salary — now on pace for $800k.Register for the webinars: Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4qg4P9kLicenses & Regulatory Issues When Buying a Business - Tue, Aug 25 - https://bit.ly/4wTADDfTopics in Neil’s interview:Neil’s previous appearance on Acquiring MindsHis background in hedge fundsPain of buying smallManaging labor and no-showsImplementing a hybrid-pay

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59:18

3 Years, $80k In: An Honest Update

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/17

Jesse Sunquist put a GM in charge and stepped back to 5 hours a week — proud of the experience, restless about the outcome.Register for the webinar: Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - Thu, Aug 13 - https://bit.ly/4wPHY6RTopics in Jesse’s interview:Buying a business for flexibilityGeographical search in New JerseyLowering his minimum SDE threshold to $300KAcquiring 2 Mosquito Joe territoriesHis plan to build wealth through franchise roll-upsModest growth followed by shrinkHow

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69:24

$400k Profit Fixing Church Pews

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/13

Greyson Boerner traded startup life for a 28-year-old niche business — now on pace to grow revenue 50% in year one.Register for the webinar:Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4z0fkBxTopics in Greyson’s interview:Founding software startupsETA as a path to stabilityGetting his education with Acquisition LabFinding business brokers through Google MapsUncovered niche church pew restoration businessCompetitor closure created significant growth

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69:04

Surviving a 2-Month Revenue Freeze in Year 1

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/10

Chibunna Chimezie's seller left $15k in the account. His post-acquisition liquidity is the only reason he made it. Register for the webinar:Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - Thu, Aug 13 - https://bit.ly/4wUCNSYTopics in Chibunna’s interview:His family’s immigration story from NigeriaInterest in how American healthcare worksLearning to manage risk in business schoolAcquiring a service provider for veteransGovernment shutdown meant no revenue first 2 monthsPost-acquisition

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82:56

Second-Time CEO Buys a $30m Title Company

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/06

Randy Rempp turned around a $17m insurance business as a rookie CEO, then used that track record to raise a search fund. Register for the webinar: The 3 Paths to Franchising for Acquisition Entrepreneurs - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4yGEhSeTopics in Randy’s interview:From insurance lawyer to business operatorLeading 300 employees at age 29Why ownership beats being the hired gunSwitching to a traditional search fundInvestors bet on operators, not deal findersRiver guides unlock industries and

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96:29

Acquiring Isn't Always a One-Way Door

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/08/03

Gabriel Cruz Avila bought a $1.4M remodeling business, weathered a divorce and burnout, then sold it two years later. Register for the webinar: The 3 Paths to Franchising for Acquisition Entrepreneurs - Thu, Aug 6 - https://bit.ly/4pY7VOXTopics in Gabriel’s interview:Lessons learned from his dad’s businessGetting bored in the oil and gas industryJoining ETA Circle in HoustonLeaning on his warehouse management experienceAcquiring a tile and marble companyFailing to dig deep into historical

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94:37

How 1 SBA Loan Brought Down 2 Businesses

Acquiring Minds ·

2026/07/30

Edgar Galindo and his partner bought 2 businesses with SBA loans. Now he's facing the consequences of shuttering both.Topics in Edgar’s interview:Construction background in his family business“Google-funded search”Wanted flexibility to start a familyAustin-only geographic search Found partner through SearchfunderFirst deal: Austin landscaping companyBuying a second business within 6 monthsMaking quick changes to the businessUndisclosed liabilities and customer-stealing employeesClosing both

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